Blair County, PA Property Records

    Blair County has a population of 120,269, ranking it 28th among Pennsylvania's 67 counties. The county seat is the Borough of Hollidaysburg, while the City of Altoona, the county's only incorporated city, is its population and economic center. Blair County forms its own Metropolitan Statistical Area and is part of the broader Altoona-Huntingdon, PA Combined Statistical Area.

    The typical home value in Blair County is $168,388, up 7.8% over the past year. While this remains well below the Pennsylvania statewide average of $275,155, the appreciation rate of 7.8% handily outpaces the statewide figure of 2.7%, pointing to strengthening buyer demand in what has long been one of the state's more affordable markets.

    Listings in Blair County go pending in about 29 days on average, a pace somewhat slower than the statewide median of 20 days but reflecting active demand for the county's affordable inventory. Roughly 16.8% of homes sell above the list price, while the median sale-to-list ratio of 0.972 suggests that most transactions close modestly below the asking price.

    According to Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED), approximately 29% of Blair County households spend 30% or more of their income on housing costs (ACS 5-year estimate). The county's median household income of roughly $57,000 means that affordability, while generally reasonable by Pennsylvania standards, warrants attention for lower-income renters.

    Who Keeps the Official Land Records

    All official land records in Blair County are maintained by the Blair County Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds, a single combined office responsible for both real estate documents and estate-related filings. The Recorder of Deeds division is the relevant department for property records. The office is located on the first floor of the historic section of the Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg.

    Remote access to Blair County's recorded documents is available through Landex, a third-party platform used by many Pennsylvania counties. Landex offers two access options: Landex Remote, a Windows-based subscription service for frequent searchers, and Landex WebStore, a browser-based, pay-per-document option for occasional use. Both require account setup. The office also offers a free Record Alert service that sends text and email notifications whenever a document is recorded under a registered name.

    What Blair County Property Records Include

    Blair County property records are the official instruments that establish real estate ownership, document financial encumbrances, and define land use rights throughout the county. The Recorder of Deeds division maintains deeds, mortgages, assignments and modifications of mortgage, satisfactions and releases, mechanics' liens, easements and rights-of-way, lease agreements of 30 years or more, subdivision plans, UCC financing statements, highway plans, notary public bonds and commissions, and military discharge records.

    Pennsylvania uses a recorded land title system across all 67 counties. Documents are recorded in the sequence they are received, assigned a book and page number, and indexed by grantor and grantee name. This index provides constructive notice to subsequent purchasers and encumbrancers. Blair County does not employ a Registered Land or Torrens title system.

    Blair County was created on February 26, 1846, and the office's land records date back to the mid-19th century. Documents are accessible on the Landex platform or in person at the courthouse. All recorded instruments are public records, except Veterans' Discharge (DD214) documents.

    How to Access Blair County Property Records

    Blair County property records can be accessed through Landex online, in person at the courthouse, by phone, by mail, or via e-recording vendors.

    Online Access (Fee-Based via Landex)

    Blair County's recorded documents are available remotely through Landex. Landex offers two access tiers:

    • Landex Remote: A Windows-based desktop application suited for title searchers, attorneys, and other frequent users. Operates on a time- and page-based billing model. Provides a full-featured search experience identical to in-office access.

    • Landex WebStore: A browser-based option for occasional users. Supports both Windows PCs and Macs. Charges per document purchased.

    You can search by name, date range, document type, instrument number, and book and page reference. Account setup is required for either tier.

    In Person

    Visitors may access records and request copies at the courthouse. Staff are available to help with navigation, but are not permitted to conduct title searches or provide legal opinions.

    • Address: 423 Allegheny Street, Suite 145, Blair County Courthouse, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648.

    • Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Closed on legal holidays. The office remains open through lunch. Recording Deadline: 3:45 p.m, Copy fees: $0.25 per page (in-office); $1.00 per page (mailed or emailed); $2.00 per document for certification.

    By Phone or Email

    You can reach the Recorder of Deeds division at (814) 693-3095. Staff can assist with questions about recording requirements, fee schedules, and general record inquiries. They cannot perform record searches on your behalf or provide legal advice.

    By Mail/Overnight

    Documents for recording may be mailed to Blair County Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds, 423 Allegheny Street, Suite 145, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648. All mail submissions must include a self-addressed, stamped envelope of the correct size for the return of originals. Checks should be made payable to the Recorder of Deeds. All fees must be paid in advance.

    E-Recording (Professionals)

    Blair County supports e-recording through three approved vendors: Simplifile (simplifile.com), CSC eRecording (erecording.com), and ePN (GOePN.com). Contact vendors directly to establish an account.

    What's Not at the Recorder's Office (But Matters for Property Research)

    The Recorder of Deeds division is the custodian of recorded title instruments, deeds, mortgages, liens, and related documents, but does not maintain property assessment data, building characteristics, or tax records. These are held by separate offices.

    The Blair County Assessment Office is responsible for evaluating and maintaining assessed values for all real property in the county. It is located at 423 Allegheny Street, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648. Phone: (814) 693-3110.

    Property owners can access their assessment data free of charge through CourthouseOnline.com using the control number and password provided on their county tax bill. The county's GIS Parcel Viewer also offers publicly accessible parcel mapping and property information.

    Delinquent real estate taxes are handled by the Blair County Tax Claim Bureau. For statewide millage rates and local government finance statistics, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) is the authoritative resource.

    Step-by-Step: How to Pull a Deed Online

    Because Blair County uses the Landex platform for remote access, pulling a deed online involves a fee. The steps are as follows:

    • Visit Landex.com and choose either Landex Remote (subscription) or Landex WebStore (pay-per-document) based on your search frequency.

    • Create an account and select Blair County, Pennsylvania, from the county index.

    • Search by grantor/grantee name, recording date range, document type, instrument number, or book and page reference. Enter your known criteria and review the results.

    • Select the relevant instrument from the results to view document details, including book and page number, recording date, parties, and document type.

    • Purchase and download the document. Note the book and page number and recording date for your chain-of-title research.

    For in-person access, visit Suite 145 at the Blair County Courthouse during research hours. If you are unsure of the correct municipality for a property, consult the municipality list on the Recorder of Deeds website. The office requires that all documents clearly state the municipality name and type (city, borough, or township).

    Cities & Towns in Blair County (and Their Record Custodians)

    The Blair County Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds serves as the sole official custodian of recorded property documents for all 25 incorporated municipalities in the county. Blair County has one city, nine boroughs, and fifteen townships:

    • City: Altoona.

    • Boroughs: Bellwood, Duncansville, Hollidaysburg (county seat), Martinsburg, Newry, Roaring Spring, Tunnelhill (partially in Cambria County), Tyrone, and Williamsburg.

    • Townships: Allegheny, Antis, Blair, Catharine, Frankstown, Freedom, Greenfield, Huston, Juniata, Logan, North Woodbury, Snyder, Taylor, Tyrone, and Woodbury.

    All recorded instruments affecting real estate in any of these municipalities are filed with and retrievable from the single Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds office at the Blair County Courthouse. When submitting a document for recording, the municipality name must be written out clearly and identified by type.

    City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

    Blair County manages property assessments centrally through its Assessment Office, rather than delegating this function to individual municipalities. The Assessment Office assigns parcel identification numbers (PINs) to all real property in the county and is responsible for maintaining current assessed values.

    Property owners can access their own records at no charge via CourthouseOnline.com using credentials printed on their tax bill. The county's GIS Parcel Viewer at gis.blairco.org provides publicly accessible parcel maps and associated data. For direct assessment inquiries, contact the Assessment Office at (814) 693-3110, located at Suite 145, 423 Allegheny Street, Hollidaysburg.

    Property tax collection is handled by individual municipal tax collectors. Delinquent taxes are the responsibility of the Blair County Tax Claim Bureau (blaircountytaxbureau.com). For statewide tax rate data and municipal finance information, consult the Pennsylvania DCED.

    Blair County-Specific Nuances

    • PIN certification stamp required on all documents. Every document submitted for recording in Blair County must bear the proper Parcel Identification Number (PIN) certification stamp and seal from the Blair County Assessment Office.

    The PIN certification fee must be included in the fees submitted for recording. Documents without this stamp will be rejected. This is a distinctive Blair County requirement that sets it apart from many other PA counties.

    • No highlighted documents accepted. The Recorder of Deeds will not accept any document that contains highlighting of any kind. Highlighted areas do not appear when a document is scanned for imaging, creating an incomplete record. Any document with highlighting will be returned without recording.

    • No blanket assignments, releases, or satisfactions. The office does not accept blanket assignments, releases, or satisfactions. Each instrument must pertain to a specific, identifiable transaction and document.

    • Fee-based Landex access. Unlike some PA counties that offer a free online index, Blair County's records are accessible exclusively through the fee-based Landex platform (Remote or WebStore). Researchers needing free access must visit the courthouse in person during office hours.

    • Free Record Alert service. The office provides a free text and email notification service through Landex that alerts registered users whenever a document is recorded under their name. Up to five names can be registered per account. This is a useful fraud-prevention tool for property owners.

    • Veterans' Discharge records: no charge. The office records Veterans' Discharge (DD214) documents at no charge and also provides certified copies free of cost. The records themselves are confidential and accessible only to the veteran, family members, or authorized veteran organization officials.

    • Municipality identification required. All documents presented for recording must clearly state the correct municipality and identify whether it is a city, township, or borough. The office provides a municipality list on its website to assist submitters in verifying the correct designation.

    • Part of the Altoona MSA. Blair County forms the Altoona, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area, making it the urban center for a broader region that also includes Huntingdon County. Altoona's presence gives the county a more mixed urban-rural character than its neighbors to the south.

    Typical Contents of a Blair County Property Record

    Reviewing official property records at the Blair County Recorder of Deeds, you will typically encounter the following:

    • Deeds:

      • Grantor and grantee names.

      • Full legal description of the property, including municipality name and type.

      • Consideration amount (stated purchase price or nominal value).

      • Prior book and page references linking back through the chain of title.

      • Acknowledgment details: notary signature, stamp, expiration date, and county and state.

      • Type of deed (warranty deed, quitclaim deed, trustee deed, etc.).

      • PIN certification stamp from the Assessment Office.

    • Mortgages and Discharges:

      • Lender and borrower names.

      • Principal loan amount, interest rate, and repayment terms.

      • Book and page reference and recording date.

      • Satisfaction, release, or partial release when the debt is extinguished.

      • Assignment of mortgage to another lender, if applicable.

    • Plans and Surveys:

      • Subdivision plan number and lot references.

      • Boundary dimensions and adjoining property references.

      • Highway plans (first page $18.00; each additional page $3.00).

    • Encumbrances and Notices:

      • Easements and rights-of-way.

      • Mechanics' liens and judgment liens.

      • Lis pendens (notice of pending litigation).

      • Restrictive covenants and declarations.

      • UCC financing statements where real property is collateral.

    Other instruments you may find include affidavits, powers of attorney, lease agreements, notary public bonds and commissions, and condominium declarations.

    Recording Changes to Property Titles

    All new deeds, mortgages, lien filings, satisfactions, assignments, easements, and other instruments affecting title to real property in Blair County must be recorded with the Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds. Submissions are accepted in person, by mail, or through approved e-recording vendors.

    In-person recording is accepted Monday through Friday, from the time the office opens at 8:00 a.m. until the recording desk closes at 3:45 p.m. The office is located at Suite 145, 423 Allegheny Street, Blair County Courthouse, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648.

    Every document submitted must comply with the following requirements:

    • A legible image, with no highlighting anywhere in the document;

    • Black ink in at least 10-point font;

    • Minimum 1-inch margins;

    • Original signatures in dark ink;

    • A valid acknowledgment;

    • A completed Certificate of Residence for the grantee/mortgagee/assignee;

    • The correct municipality name, clearly stated; and

    • The Blair County Assessment Office PIN certification stamp.

    Documents missing the PIN stamp will be rejected.

    Pennsylvania's standard 2% realty transfer tax applies to most deed transactions (1% state, 1% local). Deeds involving multiple municipalities must apportion the local transfer tax by municipality on the face of the deed.

    All fees and taxes must be paid in advance. A self-addressed, stamped envelope of the correct size is required for the return of originals. For complete recording requirements and the current fee schedule, visit Recorder of Deeds Fee Schedule or call (814) 693-3095, press 2.

    Practical Research Flow (Checklist)

    Here is a practical step-by-step approach for researching property records in Blair County, PA:

    • Identify the property's PIN and municipality. Before searching, confirm the Parcel Identification Number through the Blair County Assessment Office or the county's GIS Parcel Viewer. Also, confirm the correct municipality name and type (city, borough, or township). This information is required for all recorded instruments.

    • Search for documents via Landex. Visit Landex.com using your Remote subscription or WebStore account. Search by grantor/grantee name, document type, date range, or book and page number.

    • Record key reference numbers. Note the book and page number, instrument type, and recording date for each relevant document. These are essential for tracing the chain of title.

    • Trace the chain of title. Follow the prior book and page references listed on the current deed backward through time to confirm all legal transfers and identify any gaps, disputes, or encumbrances.

    • Review plans and encumbrances. Search for recorded subdivision plans, easements, rights-of-way, mechanics' liens, lis pendens notices, and restrictive covenants that could affect the property.

    • Cross-reference with the Assessment Office. Use CourthouseOnline.com or the GIS Parcel Viewer to verify assessed value, parcel details, and tax status. Contact the Assessment Office directly at (814) 693-3110 for questions.

    Appendix A Municipalities in Blair County

    Blair County, PA, has 1 city, 9 boroughs, and 15 townships, for a total of 25 incorporated municipalities.

    • City: Altoona.

    • Boroughs: Bellwood, Duncansville, Hollidaysburg (county seat), Martinsburg, Newry, Roaring Spring, Tunnelhill (partially in Cambria County), Tyrone, and Williamsburg.

    • Townships: Allegheny, Antis, Blair, Catharine, Frankstown, Freedom, Greenfield, Huston, Juniata, Logan, North Woodbury, Snyder, Taylor, Tyrone, and Woodbury.

    Municipality list per Wikipedia and the Blair County Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds.

    Appendix B Key Contacts & Portals

    • Blair County Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds – Recorder of Deeds Division:

        • Address: 423 Allegheny Street, Suite 145, Blair County Courthouse, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648.

        • Phone: (814) 693-3095,

      • press 2 for Recorder of Deeds.

      • Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Recording deadline: 3:45 p.m.

      • Website: blairco.org/departments/rr

    • Landex (Online Property Records – Fee-Based):

      • Website: landex.com

      • Use Landex Remote for frequent searches or Landex WebStore for occasional access.

    • Record Alert Sign-Up (Free – Up to 5 Names):

      • Available through landex.com

    • E-Recording Vendors:

    • Blair County Assessment Office:

      • Address: 423 Allegheny Street, Suite 145, Blair County Courthouse, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648.

      • Phone: (814) 693-3110.

      • Property owner self-service: CourthouseOnline.com

    • Blair County GIS Parcel Viewer:

    • Blair County Tax Claim Bureau:

    • Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED):

      • Website: dced.pa.gov

      • Use for statewide millage rates, municipal finance data, and local government statistics.

    • Blair County Official Website: